Another day off the radio

 As I was in Cambridge most of the day, I decided not to go on the radio today.

Cambridge market

This is in the centre of Cambridge, UK.  It used to be bigger, but there are fewer occupied stalls these days. I guess the council charge them too much.

King's Parade, Cambridge, UK

The photo shows just outside King's College yesterday. 

We can get into Cambridge for free with our bus passes. We go in most Mondays for our University of the Third Age lectures about "The Silk Roads".

The church in the distance is Great St Mary's, which is the university church.

Central Cambridge

 This was Bridge Street, Cambridge yesterday.

Zoology museum, Cambridge, UK

Living near Cambridge it is all too easy to take everything for granted. In the UK the main museums are free as are bus journeys for old people. So it is possible to enjoy lots without paying a penny!

Take, for example, the excellent Zoology museum we called at yesterday.

We often joke that people come across the planet to see Cambridge. We can see it every day .... for free.

Broken bike in Cambridge

 

This was in Cambridge earlier. It looks like this bike has been abandoned.

Spring here? - NOT amateur radio

After what has seemed like a long, cold, dull winter, today feels warm and sunny. Certainly there were lots of spring flowers out in Cambridge.

The approach to King’s College, Cambridge , UK - NOT amateur radio

 

This was the path up to King’s this morning.

Cambridge Busker - NOT amateur radio

In Cambridge, you often see buskers, attracted by the tourists. Mostly, they have guitars and violins are far rarer. This one was outside a large bookstore.

Buskers do no harm and are part of the Cambridge "scene" making the city vibrant, especially in nice weather.

King's College, Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

Most often, you see photos of the world famous King's College Chapel. This is the view looking towards the Porter's Lodge and King's Parade. 

Cambridge Bridge Street - NOT amateur radio

This is Bridge Street, Cambridge. There are lots of places to eat along here. 

Magdalene College that houses the library of Samuel Pepys is over the bridge over the River Cam about 300m from here.

See https://www.magd.cam.ac.uk/ .

Cambridge Botanic Garden - NOT amateur radio

My wife made this collage of the orchids seen yesterday.

Cambridge Botanic Gardens - NOT amateur radio

As today was sunny and dry we went to the Botanic Gardens in Cambridge.

CDARC website

A quick look at the Cambridge Radio Club website showed a photo of me giving a talk. I am doing one later this week on 8m. I prepare the slides, but as my voice is so poor someone else is doing the presentation and speaking!  The photo must be years old as an "in person"  presentation must pre-date my 2013 stroke.

See https://www.cdarc.org.uk/ .

Archetypal Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

Whenever you think of Cambridge you may think of punts and fine weather. Well, today we had the punts, but not the fine weather! It was very cold.

Signs of life - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows the path from King's College, Cambridge over the River Cam. It was taken on January 29th. There were already signs of the earth waking up. 

Yesterday, I noticed rooks repairing their nests - soon be spring.

Quieter than normal? - NOT amateur radio

 

Central Cambridge seemed quieter than normal. 

Perhaps it is our dull weather keeping people away!

Christ's Pieces - NOT amateur radio

This is Christ's Pieces, a park behind the bus station in Cambridge.  

Christ's College, part of the University of Cambridge, is nearby.

Cambridge buildings - NOT amateur radio

My wife made this collage of Cambridge buildings yesterday. 

She took the photos on her way back from her course at the University of the Third Age.

Rip off? - NOT amateur radio

As a local resident, we are entitled to a pass that usually grants you access to any Cambridge college, not just King's. 

Several years ago it lasted several years. 

This year it has risen by 33% and only lasts a year. To me this seems like a rip-off when King's College, Cambridge has plenty of money.

You would have thought they would want to encourage locals!